The non-conference analysis is simply a look at who each FCS team is playing as of late May / early June. Occasionally schedules change, FBS schools buyout contracts and swap opponents, causing a domino effect. So these are tentative opponents, subject to change.
Missouri Valley
Illinois State: vs. Butler, @ Eastern Illinois, @ Northern Arizona
Indiana State: vs. Eastern Illinois, @ Tennessee, @ Liberty
Missouri State: @ Missouri, @ North Dakota, vs. Murray State
North Dakota State: vs. Mississippi Valley State, @ Eastern Washington, vs. Robert Morris
Northern Iowa: @ Iowa State, vs. Cal Poly, @ Southern Utah
South Dakota: @ Drake, @ Bowling Green, vs. North Dakota
South Dakota State: vs. Duquesne, @ Montana State, vs. Drake
Southern Illinois: vs. Mississippi Valley State, @ Southeast Missouri State, @ Memphis
Western Illinois: @ Tennessee Tech, @ Northern Arizona, @ Coastal Carolina
Youngstown State: @ Pittsburgh, vs. Robert Morris, vs. Central Connecticut State
It seems like the Missouri Valley is slowly taking a turn towards easier non-conference scheduling, as only seven of the ten play FBS foes this season. There’s also a combined nine games against the Northeast, Pioneer and Southwestern Conferences. But when you consider the overall strength of eight conference games and the meat grinder that entails, perhaps it’s wise to ease off the throttle some. Still, there are eight games against the Big Sky, six of which are on the road. One of those two home games belongs to Northern Iowa, but they also travel to a Big Sky opponent. There’s a lot of identical opponents amongst the non-conference group; Eastern Illinois, North Dakota, Mississippi Valley State, Robert Morris, Drake and Northern Arizona.
